Pakistan: Kidnapping of two volunteers is a demonstration of terrorists’ strength

The comments of Ayub Sajid, Catholic director of a Pakistani NGO that collaborates with a German organisation, where Giovanni Lo Porto once worked

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Pubblicato il
20/01/2012

Ultima modifica il 20/01/2012 alle ore 16:38

vatican insider staff

“A professional, specific and quick action, carried out by Pashtun speaking extremist militants from the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Taleban groups are based.” This is how Ayub Sajid, Executive Director of Pakistani NGO, “Organization for Development and Peace” (ODP), which has its headquarters in Multan, described the kidnapping on 19 January, of two volunteers (an Italian and a German) who had been working for the German NGO “Welt Hunger Hilfe” (universal hunger relief) in Pakistan.

The Italian volunteer, Giovanni Lo Porto and the German, Berndt, were taken by force from their office and anaesthetised with chloroform.

The ODP and the German NGO shared the same “mission” and in recent months had set up a partnership project to assist victims of the Punjab floods. Members of “Welt Hunger Hilfe” – Sajid recalled – had received warnings in the past but continued to operate in the area, in the field of primary assistance and agriculture.

Ayub Saijd explained to Catholic news agency Fides that “Kidnapping is a very serious offence which worries us. We know that humanitarian workers, particularly foreign ones, are vulnerable to kidnappings and murders as they are considered as symbols of the West. Qasim Bela is known to be a turbulent and dangerous area. There are a number of military compounds and as humanitarian workers we work closely with them. The kidnapping looks like the work of a well organised group, probably terrorists, who are based in the North of the Country. The hostages will be miles away by now. This could end with a request for ransom or it could be a way of showing the government that they are strong and capable of serious actions.”The two NGOs both work in aid of the victims of the terrible floods which took place in 2010 and 2011. According to a note sent by Caritas Internationalis to Fides news agency, there was “a very faint response to the floods from the international community.” In September 2011, the UN launched an appeal to collect $357 million, necessary for guaranteeing humanitarian assistance to the victims. Despite the extent of the disaster, only 20% of the funds required were actually gathered.